July 15, 2024 – The requirements for recreational vehicle parks underwent several changes in 2021 CE Code (Section 72), most of which dealt with calculations for determining the service requirements.

With regard to mobile homes, for instance, a single trailer would be calculated as a single dwelling unit, relying on Rule 8-200. An RV park, however, would be calculated with respect to Rule 8-202—like an apartment block.

These rules remained unchanged in the 2024 Canadian Electrical Code.

That said, recreational parks are seeing an increase in electrical service requirements. The days of 15A camper requirements are fading and single-phase 30A outlets are becoming the norm. Two-pole 50A outlets are also seeing an increase. We are seeing RV campgrounds becoming more akin to trailer parks, with outbuildings and appliances, and camper units that often never leave their sites… and are even sold in place.

To accommodate this trend, the calculations for an RV park should provide for an increase in electrical service to facilitate the safe operation of these campgrounds. This means an increase in the wattage for each RV site outlet, and an increase in the percentage applied to each wattage rating for the overall calculation.

Table 71 of the CE Code breaks out these percentages. For a park with a mix of 50A, 30A, and 20A outlets, it is important to ensure the total count is cumulative, and that you start your calculation with the largest amperage outlets.

Let’s examine a campground with 70 sites. We would start with the 50A sites, then look at the 30A sites, and so on. We must also independently account for any outbuildings, as well such as showers, laundromats, streetlighting, and so on.

In our example, we’ve counted 30 sites with 50A outlets; 30 sites with 30A outlets; and 10 sites with 20A outlets. We will use a three-phase service for this park.

Code File Table, June 2024, Electrical Business Magazine.

Total wattage requirement for the park = 373,500 W.

Code File Formulae, June 2024, Electrical Business Magazine.

Without allowing for any outbuildings, water pumps, streetlighting, etc., this campground would require a three-phase 1200A 100% rated service, or a 1400A 80% rated service just to operate safely for campers.

The next step is to figure out the power distribution, whether from a single location or—more commonly—from area or loop panels, which then feed the outlets from each campground loop. But here, too, is where the issue of voltage drop comes into play, as well as ensuring all bonding and grounding are done according to Section 10 requirements.

Before proceeding with any campground installation, talk to your AHJ’s plans department and ensure your submissions contain all the relevant information to prevent delays.

Yes, all this so that your customers can have a safe, happy camping season.

David Pilon is manager, Electrical Inspections, at Technical Safety Authority, Saskatchewan (TSASK). He also serves as vice-chair of the Canadian Certified Electrical Inspector (CCEI) committee of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), Canadian Section.

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